DAVE FREETH - Inventor of the Stabileye

Team Deakins

James Ellis Deakins

Tv & Film, Filmlighting, Deakins, Movies, Filmmaking, Production, Film, Cinematography, Film Interviews

4.8 • 1.4K Ratings

🗓️ 23 July 2025

⏱️ 59 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

SEASON 2 - EPISODE 151 - Dave Freeth - Inventor of the Stabileye

In this episode of the Team Deakins Podcast, we speak with Dave Freeth, a recipient of a Scientific and Engineering Award by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for the invention of the Stabileye. The Stabileye is a remotely-operated, motorized camera stabilization system, and we used the equipment extensively on 1917 to pull the film off. Dave originally started out in an apprenticeship for watchmaking but soon found himself working for the Ministry of Defence until making the transition into the film industry. We asked Dave to come on the podcast to discuss the Stabileye’s inception and design, and he describes the underlying mechanics that not only power the Stabileye but other stabilization systems in use today. We talk about gyroscopes, satellites, lasers, and even gravity! He also shares how the Stabileye is adapting to newer camera models, and he reveals some surprising potential developments in sensor technology. We learn a lot in this episode, and we were excited to celebrate Dave’s recent recognition with him.

This episode is sponsored by Aputure & Barco

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hi and welcome to Season 2 of the Team Deacons podcast,
0:07.0	a collection of informal conversations between Roger and James Deacons and a guest.
0:13.0	We never know where the conversation will take us, so listen in and see where it goes.
0:21.9	This episode is sponsored by Aperture and its new Storm XT-52, the industry's most
0:29.5	powerful LED point source light. Brighter than a 6K HMI and powered by Aperture's revolutionary
0:36.8	Blair light engine, the Storm XT-52 is both a tunable
0:41.9	white light and also the brightest ever adjustable color LED. Storm XT-52, unrivaled output,
0:50.9	only from aperture.
1:03.4	This episode is sponsored by HDR by Barco, where the magic of cinema reaches breathtaking heights with cutting-edge, high dynamic range, HDR, laser projection.
1:10.3	Don't miss the opportunity to immerse yourself in a spectacular world of deep shadows,
1:16.3	dazzling highlights, and vibrant colors at select theaters near you.
1:21.1	Buy your tickets, learn more, and experience extraordinary today.
1:26.1	Visit hDR by barco.com.
1:31.8	Today, we're talking about camera stabilization.
1:36.4	We're speaking with someone who created a stabilized head that we used for the majority of the shots in 1917.
1:43.5	That head is the Stabili and recently was awarded a
1:47.0	technical Oscar. We're pleased to welcome Dave Freeth. Dave, thank you for doing this.
1:53.7	Thank you. Hi, James. Hi, Roger. Thank you very much for inviting me. It's a pleasure to be here.
1:59.0	We'd like to start with our normal question, which I think with you will be quite interesting,
2:04.9	which is, how did you get to where you are today?
2:08.1	Was this something you always wanted to be?
2:10.8	I think you started as a watchmaker, and I have to say we've never talked to anyone
	...

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